Mine releasing device.



P. L. E. DEL FUNGO-GIERA.

MI NE RELEASING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. l9l6.

Patented June 5-, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

ems PETERS coupuorpuma. wAsnmcmu. n. c.

P. L. E. DEL FU-N'G'O-YGIERA.

MINE RELEASING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYH. m6.

Patented J une 5, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..

PHILIPPO L. E. DEL FUNGO-GIERA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MINE-BELEASING DEVICE.

Application filed May 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Prrnnrro L. E. DEL FUNoo-GInnA, a citizen ofSwitzerland, and a resident of New York city, New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Mine-Releasing Devices, Which invention isfully set forth in the following specification.

The present invention relates to marine or floating mines, and theparticular object of the invention is to provide a device for releasingsaid mines from a distant point, as from the shore. In devices of thischaracter, it is frequently desirable, as in times of peace, to maintainthe mines at a suflicient distance below the surface of the water toprevent vessels and other floating objects from contacting with thesame, and to eflect the flotation of said mines at a desired time, inorder that they may move into the path of ships and other floatingobjects. Preferably, the mine-release is operated electrically.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of theimproved device; and

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate likeparts, 1 is a mine of any suitable construction, to the lower portion ofwhich is secured a mooring ring 2 to which is afiixed one extremity of acoiled cable 3. The other extremity of this cable 3 is divided into twoparts 31 and 32 which are connected respectively to eyelets 7 and 7screwed or otherwise attached to an anchor member 18. To this cable 3 issecured a cable member 4 which is also attached to mooring-ring 2, theother end of said cable member 4 being fixedly secured to the perforatedextremity of a mooringring pin 6. A swivel 30 is preferably pro vided inthe length of said cable member 4. This pin 6 projects into an orifice6' in the anchor member 18, and passes through a stufiing-box 9 thatprevents water from passing into said orificearound said pin. A cover 8secured in place by bolts or other suitable members 31, retains thestuflingbox in position and assists the latter in rendering the anchormember water-proof at the point where the ring passes thereinto. Thisorifice 6' is closed at its lower end by a plate 25 provided with apacking 27, which the anchoring Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

1916. Serial No. 96,8035.

plate and packing are secured in place by bolts or other suitableretaining members 26.

()n a shaft or rod 13 within said orifice 6, there is pivoted a hook 11, the upper extremity of which projects into an opening in the lowerend of pin- 6 and engages anti-friction rollers or wheels 10 mountedtherein, and the lower extremity of which is provided with teeth whichmesh with the teeth of a rack 15. This rack is of substantially U-shape, and one leg or member thereof projects through a housing 20fixedly mounted in any desired manner on the bottom plate 25. Withinsaid housing is contained an expansion spring 21, one end of which bearsagainst a member 21 carried by the rack, and the other end of whichengages against one of the walls of said housing. Under normalconditions, that is to say, when the hook l l engages pin 6, the rack 15is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1. When, however, the rackis released, by means hereinafter described, the spring 21 moves thesame toward the left, thus rotating the hook let around its shaft 13 andremoving the upper end of said hook from the pin 6, whereupon the minerises by reason of its buoyancy. Any desired means may be provided forreleasing said rack, but preferably the means employed are, electrical,and, as herein shown, an electro-magnet 22 is em ployed. Associated withthis magnet is a pivoted armature 22, one end of which engages a flange15 on the rack 15 and holds the same in the position shown in Fig. 1. Aspring 23 assists in holding the parts in the position illustrated inthat figure.

The electro-magnet 22 may be actuated by any suitable source of poweras, for example, the dynamo 19, which is connected to said magnet byconductors 19; and, when the electric circuit is closed at 19 theelectromagnet will be energized, the armature will be moved about itspivot, thus releasing the rack 15, and the hook will be removed from thepin 6. Thereupon the mine will, by reason of its buoyancy, rise to apredetermined position. At the point Where the conductors 19 passthrough the anchor member, packing 17 is provided to prevent the ingressof water, and, Within the orifice 6 of the anchor member 18, theconductors 19 pass through a magnetic indicating-box 24 which operates,in a Well-known manner, to indicate at the operating station that thedevice has operated or functioned to release the mine.

Under normal conditions, that is to say, before the mine has beenreleased so that it is free to rise under the influence of its buoyancy,it is maintained in the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the lower endof the mine 1 projects into a cage formed by the members 5 that aresecured to the anchor member 18 by means of bolts or other suitableretaining means 11. These members 5 are preferably four in number, andto their upper extremities is secured a ring 5. A slight leeway isprovided therein to permit the mine to swing with the movement of thewater. Anchor-rings 12 may also be attached to the member 18, ifdesired.

While, for the purpose of clearness, one

embodiment of the inventive idea has been herein shown and describedwith considerable detail, it is manifest that the inventive idea issusceptible of various mechanical expressions within the limits of theappended claims.

IVhat is claimed is z 1. In combination, a floating mine, an anchortherefor, a pivotally-mounted hook connecting said mine to said anchor,and electrically-operated means for turning said hook about its pivotalaxis to effect its disengagement.

2. In combination, a mine, an anchor member, means connecting said mineto said anchor member including an eyelet projecting into said anchormember, a pivoted hook engaging in said eyelet, andelectrically-operated means for moving said hook around its pivot torelease said eyelet to permit said mine to rise under the influence ofits buoyancy. 1

3. In combination, a floating mine, an anchor member, means connectingsaid mine and anchor member including a pin provided with a perforationand extending into said anchor member, a pivoted hook engaging saidperforated pin, and electrically-operated means for moving said hookabout its pivot to release said pin and permit the mine to rise underthe influence of its buoyancy.

4:. In combination, a floating mine, an an chor member, means connectingsaid mine and anchor member including an apertured pin and a pivotedhook engaging therewith, a spring tending'to disengage said pin andhook, and electrically-operated means for maintaining said spring undercompression.

5. In combination, a floating mine, an an-,

chor member, means connecting said mine and anchor member including anapertured pin and a pivoted hook engaging therewith, said hook beingprovidedwith teeth, a rack engaging the teeth on said hook, a springurging said rack in a direction to move said hook about its pivot anddisengage said hook and pin, and electrically-operated means formaintaining said spring under compression.

'6. In combination, a floating mine, ananchor member, means connectingsaid mine and anchor member including an apertured pin and a pivotedhook engaging therewith, said hook being provided with teeth, a rackengaging the teeth on said hook, a spring urging said rack in adirection to move said hook about its pivot and disengage said hook andpin, a detent for maintaining said spring undercompression, and anelectromagnet for operating saiddetent to release said spring. Y

7. In combination, a floating mine, an anchor therefor, a pivotallymounted hook connecting said mine to said anchor, a spring normallytending to disengage said hook, a detent opposing the action of saidspring, and electrically-operated means for operating said detent.

8. In combination, a floating mine, an an-.

chor member, means connecting saidmine and anchor member including anapertured pin and a pivoted hook engagingtherewith,

a spring tending to disengage said pin and hook, a detent fornormally'holding said hook in engagement with said pin, andelectrically-operated means for operating said detent.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

PHILIPPO L. E. DEL FUNGO-GIERA-- Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of .latents,Washington',D. G.

